Tubing apparatus



March 5, 1957 w. E. KANADY TUBING APPARATUS Filed oct. 5, 1955 Il\ EN United States Patent Office TUBiNG APPARATUS William E. Kanady, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N. J., aV corporation of Delaware Application October 5, 1955, Serial No. 538,580 14 Claims. (Cl. 166243) The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a cased |and tubed well bore. More particularly, the apparatus is directed to be used on a tubing string which is permanently located in a cased well for extending the length thereof.

The present invention may be briefly described as an apparatus for extending the lower end of a tubing in a well when desired. T'he apparatus comprises a hydraulic cylinder enclosing a tubular mandrel with the tubular mandrel having an inside diameter' at least as large as the inside diameter of the tubing' string and connected to the llower end of the tubing string. A

sembly generally designated by the numeral 14. The assembly consists of an'inner tubular mandrel 15, having v the lower end of the mandrel 15.

ranged about the mandrel and fixed thereto by means,y

at least as large a central bore as that of the tubing 12.

A sealingmeans,'such as an 0 `ring 16, is arranged in |an annular recess 16a about the outer periphery adjacent Concentrically arp by cap member which forms part of tlhe. mandrel'IS.

tubular extension member is slidably arrangedon the tubular mandrel and, upon pressure being applied to` the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder by a separate conduit attached thereto and leading to the earths surface,

the tubular extension is forcibly extended out of lthe bottom of the hydraulic cylinder. The tubular extension member may be retracted by applying pressure through another conduit which is connected to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder whereby pressure applied therethrough forces the tubular extension to its retracted posiretract the extension member or pressure may be applied to the annulus between the tubing string and the casing and, by providing iiuid ports -in the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder, the extension member may be biased to its retracted position.

rllhe present apparatus is specifically useful in permanent well completion methods where the lower end of the tubing string is set once in the productive life of the well above a plurality of potentially productive formations, sands, hydrocarbon zones, strata, intervals, and the like from which hydrocarbons such as oil and/or gas are obtained.

The apparatus in its retracted position allows well completing tools, such as a gun perforator, to be lowered through the tubing. The hydraulic 'cylinder arrangement allows positive extension of the apparatus for such operations as washing out excess cement or sand accumulated in the casing.

Other advantages may be seen by the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of another embodiment; v

Fig. 3 isa sectional view of still another embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, a casing, such as 10, extends from the earths surface, not shown, to penetrate a productive formation, such as 11. A tubing string 12 is arranged in the casing with its lower end above the formation 11. lt may be understood that the tubing may also be placed above a plurality of productive formations, not shown. Connected to the lower end of the tubing 12 by such means as a collar or coupling 13 is a hydraulic tubing extension as- The housing 18, as shown, extends tothe lower end o f the mandrel 15. The inner wall of the housing 18 and the outer wall of the mandrel 15"form an annular opena ing 21 adjacent their lower ends. Sealing means, such as O ring 22, is arranged in an anular groove 22a in the housing 18 adjacent the O ring 16. j i

Ports 23 are provided in the lower lend of the housing 18 and fluidly communicate the chamber 19 with the casing annulus 24. v

A conduit 25 is connected into the plate 20 and iluidly communicates withthe chamber 19. The conduit 25 extends to the earths surface and is connected to a source of iluid pressure, not shown.

A tubular extension member 26provided on its upper end with an annular shoulder or piston 27 is slidably arranged on the mandrel 15. The extension member" 26 extends through the annular opening 21 and sealingly engages O rings 16 and 22.

A iiuid seal isvaiorded between the outer periphery of thev annular shoulder 27 and the'inner wall of the housing 18 by O rings 28 arranged on annular shoulder 27.

Latc'hing means, such as latch' springs 29, are fixed to the mandrel 15 adjacent the upper end vof chamber v 19. A ,llatching ring 30 is xed to the upper end of tion. A coil spring, and the like, may also be used to miandrel 15 for latching engagement with latch springs 29 when member 26 is in its fully'retracted position.y

As's'hown in Fig.` l, the casing 10 has been previously perforated as .at 31 by a suitable perforator, not shown, which maybe a mechanical perforatoror a bullet gun or shaped 'charge perforator which has beenlow'ered through the vtubing 12 and the assembly 14. 'Il henextension member 26"may, at that-time', have' been in its' retracted position.' 'Howeven'the member 26 maybe in its extended` position 'and haye a' perforator lowered through it.'

Fig. l shows the extension member in its fully ex# tended position and, as an example, is shown being used to wash out by reverse circulation a bed of sand which accumulated adjacent the perforations 31.

When it is desired to extend the member 26',- pressure is applied through the conduit 25 to the upper end of chamber 19 above the shoulder 27 of the member 26. This pressure overcomes the latch springs 29 which are at thattime engaged in ythe latch ring 30 and ,pushes the member 26 downwardly. Fluid accumulated in the chamber 19 below the shoulder 27 is expelled through the ports 23.

Pressure is maintained in the conduit 25 until the operation to be performed, such as washing outsand or cement or spotting cement, acidizing, fracturing, pe`r. forating, and the like, iscompletedv Pressure is ltheny relieved in conduit 25 and pressure is applied to the c'asing annulus 24 whereby uid pressure is applied to the underside of shoulder 27 by way of ports 23 and the member is pushed back to its retracted position until latch ring 30 engages with latch springs 29.

Referring to Fig. 2, the embodiment is similar to the device in Fig. l, excepting the iiuid ports 23 of Fig. l have been replaced with a threaded inlet 32 to which is connected a conduit 33 which extends to the earths survliatentetl Mar. k5, 195,7.`

face and is connected to a source of duid pressure, not shown. The parts of Fig. 2 which are identical to Fig. l carry corresponding reference numerals. The extension member 26, as in Fig. l, is also extended by pressurizing conduit 25 and is retracted by pressurizing conduit 33. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is also similar to Fig. l and corresponding parts will also carry corresponding reference numerals; the embodiment of Fig. 3, instead of being pressurized to the retracted position, is retracted by a helical coil :spring 34 as shown which has one end biasing against the underside of annular shoulder Z7 and its other end biasing against the lower end of housing 18. The embodiment of Fig. 3 requires no latching means as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The present invention as illustrated and described affords a. tubing `extension apparatus which can be posi- Itively extended and retracted.

The invention is, therefore, quite advantageous andV useful.. vThe length of a tubing may be extended or varied without requiring use of any tools. The extended tubing or tubing of varied length has a full opening bore through which well tools, such as wireline perforators and the like, may be lowered.

. Having fully illustrated and described the present invention and its operation, what I claim is:

` 1. Apparatus for extending the lower end of a string of tubing placed in a well bore comprising, in combination, ahousing concentrically arranged about and connected to the lower end of said tubing, a tubular extension member slidably arranged in Isaid housing in fluid sealing engagement therewith, means connected to said housing for extending said tubular extension member from said housing, means .in said housing for retracting Said tubular extension member and means for releasably latching said tubular extension member in its fully` re tracted position.

V2. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 in which the means for retracting said tubular extension member is a helical coil spring.

3.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for extending said tubular extension member is a iluid pressure conduit connected into the upper end of said housing.

4. Apparatus for extending the lower `end of a string ot tubing placed in a well bore comprising, in combination, a tubular mandrel concen-trically connectedtoV the lower end of said tubing, a housing concentrically spaced about and connected to'saidtubulas mandrel, a tubular extension member slidably arranged on said mandrel in said housing, pressure means connected to said housing for extending said tubular extension member through the lower end of said housing, means connected to said housing for retracting said tubular extension member, and means for releasably latching said tubular extension member in its fully retracted posit-ion.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the means for extending said tubular extension member is a fluid pressure conduit connected into the upper end of said housing.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the means for 'retracting the tubular extension member is a iluid pressure conduit connected to the lower end of said housing.

7. Apparatus for extending the lower end of a string of tubing placed `in a well bore, comprising, in combination, a tubular mandrel coaxially connected to the lower end of said tubing, said mandrel having a central bore therethrough at least as large as the central bore of said tubing, a housing concentrically arranged about and connected to said tubular mandrel, a tubular extension member slidably arranged in said housing and on said tubular mandrel for operably extending through the lower end of said housing, pressure means connected to said housing for extending said tubular extension member, means in said housing for retracting said tubular extension member and means for releasably latching said tubular extension member in its fully retracted position.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which the means for retracting said tubular extension member is a helical coil spring.

9. Apparatus for extending the lower end of a string of tubing placed in a well bore, comprisng in combination, a tubular mandrel coaxially connected to the lower end of said tubing, said mandrel having a central bore therethrough at least as large as the central bore of said tubing, a housing concentrically arranged about and connected to Vsaid tubular mandrel, a tubular extension member slidably arranged in said housing and on said tubular mandrel for operably extending through theV lower end of said housing, vsaid tubular extension being provided with a piston head on its upper end, pressure means connected to said housing for extending said tubular extension member, means arranged in said housing for retracting said tubular extension, and means in said housing for Y releasably latching Said Atubular extension member in its fully Aretracted position.

A10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the means forlretracting said tubular extension member is a helical coil spring.

l1. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the means for retracting said tubular extension member is a pressure conduit connected into the lower end of said housing.

12. Apparatus for extending the lower end of a string of tubing placed in a well bore comprising in combination, a tubular mandrel coaxially connected to the lower end of said tubing, a housing arranged about and connected to said tubular mandrel, a tubular extension member slidably arranged in said housing and on said tubular mandrel for operably extending through the lower end of said housing, a pistou head provided on the upper end of said tubular extension member, pressure means connected .into the upper end of said housing for extending said tubular extension member, pressure means provided in the lower end of said housing for retraeting said tubular extension member and Vmeans in said housing for releasably latching said tubular extension member in its fully retracted position.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which the means for retracting said tubular extension member is a helical coil spring.

14. Apparatus in accordance with.claim 12 in which the means for Aretracting said tubular extension member is a pressure conduit connected into the lower end of said housing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Huberv lune 12, 1956 

